Florida Finds: Marion County may be the Horse Capital of the World
If you don’t own a horse or are not really into thoroughbred racing, you may not know how high Florida ranks in the world of this sport. But for those in the know, it is no surprise that Marion County may rank as the “Horse Capital of the World.”
Former Dollar General employee diverts prosecution in theft of $2,180 from safe
A former employee at a Dollar General store in Marion County has entered into a pretrial diversion program, allowing her to defer possible prosecution in the theft of $2,180 from a store safe provided she meets several conditions over the next two years. Pauline Rae Head, of Micanopy, entered the...
Deputy’s Dashcam Captures Suspect Stealing Beer From Gas Station While He Was Refueling
A Florida sheriff’s deputy was was in the right place at the right time to catch a suspect accused of stealing from a gas station while he was refueling his patrol vehicle. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Corporal Michael Stringer was pumping gas at the 7-Eleven on the 9400 block of SE Baseline Road […]
Belleview moves to bar all watercraft from Lake Lillian
By a unanimous vote, the Belleview City Commission has signaled its intent to bar all watercraft from Lake Lillian . The vote came at the July 1 commission meeting. It was the first reading of the proposed ordinance. A second reading is scheduled for July 15, when there will be discussion and a final vote. City...
Wanted man caught stuffing backpack with stolen items at Walmart
A Leesburg man was arrested for theft after he and an unidentified companion stuffed a backpack with $230 in stolen merchandise at Walmart. An officer responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., to assist with a retail theft at 6 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department....
Federal funding pause leaves Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida scrambling for funds
EATONVILLE, Fla. — Working parents in Central Florida often depend on affordable after-school care or a summer program for their child, but cuts in federal funding for those programs could affect their ability to keep the doors open. That’s a scenario weighing on families across the United States, as...
Suspect tracked down in wake of road rage attack in The Villages
A suspect has been tracked down in the wake of a road rage attack in The Villages. Byron Scott West, 64, of Vienna, Ga., is facing charges of throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle and criminal mischief following the violent incident which occurred Sept. 20 at the intersection of State Road 44 and Morse Boulevard.
Homeless man ends up behind bars after caught with fentanyl and pills
A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested on drug charges when an officer found fentanyl and pills in his possession. A deputy stopped a red 2001 Ford pickup truck for a nonworking registration tag light near County Road 473 and Poe Street in Leesburg around 3:55 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the...
I am limiting my driving on SR 200 until I know it’s safer
Ocala-News.com about police increasing the number of traffic stops in Ocala, especially on SR 200, and if they have, this certainly hasn’t deterred the dangerous drivers I encountered this morning between 6 and 7 a.m. on my way to and from Walmart in SW Ocala. On my three-mile drive...
Florida ‘highly intoxicated’ man arrested after allegedly throwing concrete, pipe, machete at victim
MARION COUNTY, Fla. - A "highly intoxicated" Florida man has been arrested after he allegedly threw a piece of concrete, a metal pipe and a machete at another man. Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) responded to a physical disturbance on Monday at a home in Dunnellon. Once...
